Wallet case

ABSTRACT

A case includes first and second components hinged together and a latch for releasably securing the first component hinged closed to the second component. In one example, the first component may include a sealing band attached to an edge thereof and displaced away from the edge around a latch area of the first component. The second component may include a contact element for contacting the sealing band to provide a watertight closure between them. In another example, the first and second components each include a conductive and non-conductive shell. While the non-conductive shells are hinged together, the conductive shells substantially shield an interior chamber of the case from electromagnetic radiation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to wallets, personal containers or other cases having a hinged construction. Providing waterproofing, crush resistance and electromagnetic shielding are particular goals of the devices proposed herein.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Wallets have customarily been made from flexible materials such as leather, natural or synthetic fabrics, etc. Such materials allow for inexpensive construction techniques and allow for the wallets to be carried in a pocket close to a bearer's body due to their conformability and relatively small size.

However, many users are concerned with more than cost or small size when choosing a wallet or personal case. As one example, it is often a concern that a wallet provides a waterproof enclosure for keeping items dry such as paper money, business cards or small electronic devices such as memory cards or storage devices. Water sports or all-weather outdoor activities are just two examples of when such watertight storage might be of concern to a user.

Also, identity theft is a growing concern among consumers. Traditionally, one's identity or other sensitive information could only be obtained by stealing a physical object bearing such identity or other sensitive information such as a driver's license or credit card. Recently, however, wireless information communication means have become popular to include in objects such as credit cards and personal identification items such as passports. Such wireless communication means have taken many forms, including RFID (radio frequency identification) or other near-field communication (NFC) tags, antennas or microchips. Such devices may be active or passive, but generally all operate on the principle of wireless transmission of data via electromagnetic waves or radiation.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a wallet or personal case to address these and other concerns.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides hinged cases.

In an aspect, a hinged case includes a first component and a second component hinged to the first component. A latch releasably secures the first component hinged closed to the second component and is comprised of a latch area on the first component and a latch area of the second component. The latch areas are at an edge of their respective components. A sealing band is attached to the first component adjacent to the edge of the first component, but has a portion displaced away from the edge around the latch area of the first component. A contact element of the second component forcibly contacts the sealing band to form a substantially watertight closure.

In another aspect, a hinged case comprises a first component and a second component. Each component includes a conductive shell attached to a non-conductive shell. The non-conductive shell of the first component is hinged to the non-conductive shell of the second component. A latch releasably secures the first component hinged closed to the second component. With the case hinged closed, the conductive shells of the first and second components substantially shield an interior chamber of the case from electromagnetic radiation.

In still another aspect, a case includes a first portion and a second portion connected to one another by a connector to form a cavity. A seal surrounds the cavity but does not surround the connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other aspects, features and advantages can be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a case according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a top view of a case according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional slice view of the case of FIG. 3A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3C is a detail view of the cross sectional slice view of FIG. 3B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a top view of a case of a case according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a cross sectional slice view of the case of FIG. 4A according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a case according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Wallet cases are described herein, with reference to examples and exemplary embodiments. Specific terminology is employed in describing examples and exemplary embodiments. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, a case 10 comprises a first component 12 and a second component 14 that are connected to one another by a hinge 16. While the case examples shown in the figures have a generally rectangular shape, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the overall shape of the case 10 is not particularly limited.

The hinge 16 may be any type of hinge known in the art. Some examples of possible hinge configurations include hinges having hinge pins 22 (shown in the figures), hinges which include more than one hinge pin and intermediary hinge members, hinges made from flexible material such as fabric or plastic, etc. The hinge 16 connects the first component 12 to the second component 14 while allowing the components to rotate about one another so as to open and close the case 10.

The first component 12 includes a latch area 18 opposite the latch area 20 of the second component 14. The latch areas 18 and 20 are reserved for latch components which operate to releasably secure the first component 12 to the second component 14. The latch components which form the latch of the case may take many forms and are not particularly limited. In one example, one latch area may contain a magnet to which a magnet in the opposite latch area is attracted. In another example, one latch area may include a hook shaped protrusion configured to snap over a mating bar or ledge comprised in the opposing latch area. Such mechanisms are well known to one skilled in the art and any may be readily applied to the case of the present disclosure. Such latch mechanisms may also optionally include means for releasing or means to aid in releasing the latch. One example of such a release mechanism is a pivoted thumb button, which, in response to pressure form a user's thumb, provides a separating force to an opposing case component to help in opening the case. No matter the form of latch, latch components, or release mechanism chosen to be employed, latch areas 18 and 20 at edge portions of the first and second components 12 and 14 are needed to accommodate such devices.

The latch areas 18 and 20 need not be confined to the contacting surfaces of the first and second components 12 and 14. As one example, shown in FIG. 2, the latch area 20 of the second component 14 extends around to a side and top surface of the second component 14.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the case 10 is provided with a substantially watertight closure. In one example, such feature is provided by a sealing band 24 attached to one component and a complimentary contact element 26 on the opposing component. In the examples shown in the figures, the sealing band 24 is shown attached to the first component 12, however, one skilled in the art will recognize that it could just as well be attached to the second component 14 in similar fashion.

In FIG. 1, the sealing band 24 is attached to the first component 12 adjacent to an outer edge 28 of the first component. The sealing band 24 has a portion 30 around the latch area 18 which is displaced from the outer edge 28 of the first component 12 to accommodate the latch area 18. Such configuration provides a benefit that the particular design of the latch need not be watertight in order to prevent water from entering the interior chamber or cavity 32 of the case 10. In other words, the inner workings of the latch mechanism are free to get wet and the interior chamber 32 can still be kept dry. Towards the hinge 16 of the case, the sealing band 24 is also displaced from the outer edge 28 of the case to accommodate the hinge 16. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the hinge pin 22 is closer to the outer edge 28 of the case than the sealing band 24. While in the figures the sealing band 24 is shown to completely encircle the interior chamber 32 of the case 10, the sealing band 24 may also be provided so as to not completely encircle the interior chamber 32 of the case 10. Providing a sealing band 24 not completely encircling the interior chamber 32 may be useful when a completely watertight case is not necessary or desired.

The particular material selection for the sealing band 24 is not limited. For example, the sealing band 24 may be formed of the same material as the first or second component 12 or 14, even may be formed integrally with the first or second component 12 or 14. In another example, the sealing band 24 may be formed of an elastomeric material that is softer than the contacting element 26.

An example of a sealing band 24 and contacting element 26 according to the present disclosure are shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C. FIG. 3C is a close-up of the cross sectional slice view shown in FIG. 3B, taken along plane BB, shown in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3C, the sealing ring 24 may be attached to the first component 12 within a channel 34 of the first component 12. Such channel 34 may aid in assembling the case 10 and in confining any adhesive which may optionally be used to aid in the attachment of the sealing band 24 to the first component 12. Alternatively, the sealing band 24 may be attached to the first component 12 not within a channel. The sealing band 24 and contacting element 26 are configured to contact one another when the case 10 is hinged closed. In the example shown, when the case 10 is closed, the contacting element 26 forcibly contacts the sealing band 24 so as to provide a substantially watertight closure. In the examples shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the sealing band 24 is wider than the contacting element 26. In the examples shown, the contacting element 26 is comprised by a raised ridge protruding from the second component 14 towards the first component 12 when the components 12 and 14 are hinged closed. In this arrangement, in an example where the sealing band 24 is softer than the contacting element 26, the force applied to close the case 10 will act to displace some of the sealing band 24 past the lower contacting edges 36 of the surface of the contacting element 26 in contact with the sealing band 24. Such displacement may be encouraged when the sealing band 24 is attached to the first component 12 within the channel 34, as the displaced sealing band material would have nowhere to go but up towards the second component 14 when displaced. In any arrangement, however, such displacement may improve the watertightness properties of the closure.

One skilled in the art will recognize that many alternative arrangements of the sealing band 24 and contacting element 26 are possible to provide a watertight closure. For example, the contacting element may comprise two contacting element members configured to contact the outside edges of the sealing band, sandwiching the sealing band between the contacting element members. Similarly, the sealing band may comprise two sealing band members configured to contact the outer edges of the contact element, sandwiching the contact element between the sealing band members.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the first component 12 and second component 14 may each include a conductive shell 38 and 40 and a non-conductive shell 42 and 44 attached to the conductive shell 38 and 40. The conductive shells 38 and 40 may be attached to the non-conductive shells 42 and 44 in any order, so long as the conductive shell 38 of the first component 12 and the conductive shell 40 of the second component 14 substantially shield the interior chamber 32 of the case 10 from electromagnetic radiation when the two components 12 and 14 are hinged closed. For example, the conductive shells may be attached to an interior of the non-conductive shells or the non-conductive shells may be attached to an interior of the conductive shells.

Electromagnetic radiation shielding is provided when a volume is substantially surrounded by a conductive enclosure. The conductive enclosure does not need to be formed from one unitary member and does not even need to be formed of solid conductive material to provide a substantial amount of electromagnetic shielding. Similarly, the conductive shells 38 and 40 do not need to completely enclose the interior chamber to provide substantial shielding from electromagnetic radiation. For example, the conductive shells 38 and 40 may include cut-outs for the hinge 16, as shown in FIG. 4B or for a latch area 20, shown in FIG. 2. In another example, an ohmic, or conductive connection may be made between conductive shells 38 and 40.

The choice of material for the conductive shells 38 and 40 is limited only by the conductivity of the material. Suitable examples of material which can be used for the conductive shells include aluminum, copper, steel, brass, bronze or other sheet metal, metallic wire mesh, conductive paint, conductive plating, deposited conductive material, etc. Similarly, the choice of material for the non-conductive shells 42 and 44 is not particularly limited. As one example, the non-metallic shells may be constructed of a resin material. In such an example, one skilled in the art will appreciate the design, cost efficiency and assembly simplification possibilities such a material choice allows. For example, if the non-conductive shells are formed of a thermoplasticly injected resin, many aspects of the case may be molded into the non-conductive shell during the molding process, such as hinge components, latch components and watertightness improving components.

In the example shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the conductive shell 38 of the first component 12 is attached to an outside of the non-conductive shell 42 of the first component 12. Similarly, the conductive shell 40 of the second component 14 is attached to an outside of the non-conductive shell 44 of the second component 14. While the conductive and non-conductive shells are shown to have a generally concave shape in the figures, their shape is not limited to such examples. For example, the conductive shells may be formed in a planar shape. As another example, the conductive or non-conductive shells may each be comprised of a plurality of conductive or nonconductive shell members, respectively.

Further, the latch areas 18 and 20 of the first and second members 12 and 14 may be provided in the non-metallic shells of the respective first and second members 42 and 44, just as hinge components may be provided integrally in the non-metallic shells 42 and 44.

In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the case 10 may include an accordion pocket member 46, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5. Such accordion pocket member may be formed of one or many pieces of flexible material such as fabric or plastic and is configured to provide a plurality of pockets for organizing items stored in the case 10.

In yet another aspect of the present application, the case 10 is configured to provide crush resistance to the interior chamber 32 of the case 10. The provision of solid metal conductive shells 38 and 40 is one example of how such a configuration may be implemented, although crush resistance may be partially or fully provided by other components of the case 10, such as the non-metallic shells 42 and 44.

In addition, the embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced on them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure. 

1. A case comprising: a first component and a second component connected to the first component by a hinge; a latch releasably securing the first component hinged closed to the second component, the latch including a latch area at an edge of the first component and a latch area at an edge portion of the second component opposite the latch area of the first component; a sealing band attached to the first component adjacent to the edge of the first component, the sealing band having a portion displaced away from a position adjacent to the edge of the first component around the latch area of the first component; and a contact element of the second component configured to forcibly contact the sealing band to form a substantially watertight closure between the contact element and the sealing band.
 2. The case of claim 1, wherein the sealing band completely encircles an inner portion of the first component.
 3. The case of claim 1, wherein the sealing band is held in a channel of the first component.
 4. The case of claim 1 wherein the contact element is a raised ridge formed adjacent to the edge of the second component and having a portion displaced away from the edge of the second component around the latch area of the second component.
 5. The case of claim 1, wherein at any cross section of the case taken orthogonally to an edge of the case, a width of a surface of the sealing band in contact with the contact element, measured orthogonally to the edge of the first component, is larger than a width of a surface of the contact element in contact with the sealing band, measured orthogonally to the edge of the second component.
 6. The case of claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises a hinge pin and the hinge pin is located closer to the edge of the first component than the sealing band.
 7. The case of claim 1, wherein the case further includes an accordion pocket member attached to the first component within an area encircled by the sealing band and attached to the second component within an area encircled by the contact element.
 8. A case comprising: a first component and a second component, each including a non-conductive shell and a conductive shell attached to the non-conductive shell; a hinge connecting the non-conductive shell of the first component to the non-conductive shell of the second component; and a latch releasably securing the first component hinged closed to the second component, wherein when hinged closed, the first component and second component define an interior chamber substantially shielded from electromagnetic radiation by the conductive shell of the first component and the conductive shell of the second component.
 9. The case of claim 8, wherein the conductive shell of the first and second components is an outer shell of each component and the non-conductive shell of the first and second components is an inner shell of each component.
 10. The case of claim 8, wherein the conductive shell of the first component is ohmically connected to the conductive shell of the second component.
 11. The case of claim 8 wherein the conductive shell of the first component is not ohmically connected to the conductive shell of the second component.
 12. The case of claim 8, wherein: the latch includes a latch area at an edge of the non-conductive shell of the first component and a latch area at an edge portion of the non-conductive shell of the second component opposite the latch area of the non-conductive shell of the first component; a sealing band attached to the non-conductive shell of the first component adjacent to the edge of the non-conductive shell of the first component, the sealing band having a portion displaced away from the edge of the non-conductive shell of the first component around the latch area of the non-conductive shell of the first component; and a contact element of the non-conductive shell of the second component configured to forcibly contact the sealing band to form a substantially watertight closure between the contact element and the sealing band.
 13. The case of claim 8, wherein when hinged closed the non-conductive shells of the first and second components contact each other and the conductive shells of the first and second components do not contact each other.
 14. The case of claim 8 wherein the case further includes an accordion pocket member attached to the first component and to the second component within the interior chamber.
 15. The case of claim 8 wherein the first and second component are rigid and provide crush resistance to the interior chamber of the case.
 16. A case comprising: a first component and a second component; at least one connector connecting the first component to the second component to form a cavity; and a seal surrounding the cavity and not surrounding the at least one connector. 